Signal transmitter



Aug.l1,1936. H ITH 2,050,632

A SIGNAL TRANSMITTER Original FiledJan. 24, 1951 5 b LLINVENTOR HARRY 5.SMITH ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicEGamewell Company, Newton Upper Falls,

Masa, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application January 24,1931, Serial No. 511,339. Divided and this application August 7, 1934,Serial o. 738,847

Claims.

This invention relates to signal transmitters, and more particularly tovariable signal initiating station transmitters involving manuallyoperable members for varying the characteristics of signals, both as totheir component parts, and as to cycles of operation or repetition ofthe signals formulated thereby.

In signal transmitters of this type, the manually operable members forvarying the characteristics of the signal are usually provided withindicating means to indicate the particular characteristic of the signalfor which each individual member is at any time set, and it is desirablethat operation of any one member will not alter the setting, and hencethe indication of another member, g

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide manually operablemembers for varying the characteristics of the signal arranged so that,when in upset position, they will be disengaged from the characteristicvarying mechanism of the transmitter to prevent unintended actuation.

Another object is to provide means whereby engagement of such memberswith said mechanism will be maintained throughout all set positioningsthereof.

Another object is to provide locking means for positively retaining, inunset position, such members and their associated indications throughoutsuch disengagement. v A signal transmitter of a type in which thisinvention may be employed is fully shown and'described in the co-pendingapplication of Nathan H. Suren and the present applicant,fi1ed January24th, 1931, Serial No. 511,339, for Signal transmitters, upon whichthere has issued Patent-No; 1,986,026, dated January 1st, 1935, of whichthis is a division.

Detailed description of the mechanism of such a transmitter willtherefore be'herein omitted.

For the purpose of enabling this invention to be readily understood, anembodiment thereof is hereinafter described, and is shown in the annexeddrawing indicating portions of a transmitter such as described in theabove mentioned ccpending application and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a signal transmitter embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of one of the digit indicator plates; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1showing certain of the parts positioned as for the digit 5.

Reference characters applied to the parts shown by'the drawing of thisapplication correspond to those applied to corresponding parts ondrawings of the above mentioned co-pending application, to facilitatereference thereto.

. Referring to the embodiment of this invention illustratively indicatedin the accompanying 5 drawing, the signal transmitter shown may beenclosed in a suitable casing which is generally indicated in Fig. 1, inwhich the front panel 2| has detachably secured thereto an annular disc22. This disc constitutes a face plate or dial haveing associatedtherewith a plurality of knobs 23,24, 25, 26, 21, 28 and 29, by means ofwhich the device may be operated and controlled.

The knob 23 controls the round setting mechanism,-the knobs 24, 25, 26and 2'! control the 5 severaldigit plates and their associatedmechanism, the knob 28 controls the restoring mechanism, and the knob 29controls the starting mechanism. Above the knob 23, the face of the dial22,is provided with the numerals I, 2, 3 and 4, which designate therounds. Operable by the knob 23, is a pointer 30, which indicates thenumber of, rounds for which the transmitter is set. The knobs 23, 24,25, 26 and 21 are rotatable, while the knobs 28 and 29 are manuallymovable toward the dial 22.

. The knobs 24, 25, 26 and 2! are arranged in ayhorizontal row. Aboveeach of these knobs there are openings 20 in the dial, through whichnumerals on the digit plates may be viewed. 30 The frame of thetransmitter mechanism includes the two spaced frame plates 3| and 32.Interposed between the dial 22 and the front frame plate 3|, are digitindicator plates 35, 36, 31 and 38, in the form of annular discs ofrela- 35 tively thin sheet metal, provided circumferentially, withnumerals from 0 to 9, inclusive, as shown in Fig. 2.

The digit plates are mounted on and rotated by the respective shafts asshown in Fig. 3, where 40 dial 3! is shown on its shaft 4| and rotatedtherewith by pin'452 carried by the arm 442 forming part of collar 432which is secured to the shaft 4|.

The shafts extend through bushings in the dial 5 22 and the knobs 24,25, 26 and 21 are respectively mounted on the outer ends of said shafts.

Referring to the mechanism indicated by Fig. 3, which is generallyrepresentative of that associatediwith knobs 25, 26 and 2|,the bushing452, through which shaft 4| extends, is secured in the dial 22 and hasformed therein an opening 412 for the reception of the end of the pin452. This opening is so located that, when the end of the pin 452 isdisposed in said opening,

the digit plate 37 will be positioned so that the numeral 6 carriedthereby will register with the dial opening 20.

The shaft 4| has an end 48 projecting through the frame plate 32, and aleaf spring 50 secured to said plate 32 bears against said end 48 so asto urge endwise movement of the shaft toward the dial 22.

As described in greater detail in the hereinbefore mentioned co-pendingapplication, the gears 66, 61, 66 and 69 form part of the digit settingmechanism and each is adapted to be rotated by its respectivelyassociated knob 24, 25, 26 or 21.

The gear 66 carries a pin II! which normally engages a stop H8 securedto the frame plate SI, and also carries a second pin II9 which isdisposed in the path of a pin I29 carried by gear 6?; gear 63 alsocarries a second pin I2I which is disposed in the path of a pin I23carried by gear 68; and gear 68 also carries a second pin I22 which isdisposed in the path of a pin I24 carried by gear 69.

Gear 69 is urged to rotate in a clockwise direction (when looking towardthe front of the mechanism) by a spring I4I, and, through engagement ofthe pins carried by the gears 66, 61, 68 and 69, the gears 66, 6'! and68 are also urged by said spring I4! to. rotate in said clockwisedirection until pin III carried by gear 66 engages the stop IE8.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that rotation of gear 66 by knob24 will also cause corresponding rotation of all the remaining gears 61,68 and 69; and that rotation of gear 61 or 68 by knob 25 or 26 willcorrespondingly cause rotation of the remaining gears between it and thespring MI.

The gears 66, 67, 68 and 69 are rotated by their respective knobsthrough gears secured to the respective shafts, such as the gear 51 onshaft M, as shown in Fig. 3.

This gear 57 is secured to the shaft M in such position that, when theshaft 4| is moved endwise against the tension of the leaf spring 50 asuineien'c distance to withdraw pin 452 from the opening 472 in bushing462 so as to. permit rotation thereof, the teeth -of-said gear 51 willbe in mesh with the teeth of gear 68.

Endwise movement of shaft 4I incidental to entrance of pin 452 into theopening 412 carries gear 'l-out of engagement with the gear68. Thispermits rotation of gear 68 without thereby causing rotation of theshaft 4I andthe indicator 31.

Such disengagement of the gears on the individual shafts from therespective gears 61, 68 and 69 permits rotation of any of the gears 66,61 or 68 without moving any of the respectively succeedin digit plates36, 31 or 38 from their 0 position.

It is deemed expedient, for reasons well understood by those-skilled inthis art, that setting of the gears 66, 61, 68 and 69 shall beaccomplished in a predetermined sequence, starting with gear 66 andcontinuing in the order named, to the end that the digit plates shallcorrectly indicate the number for which the mechanism is set; hence asleeve 56 is mounted on the shaft M between the collar 432 and the gear51 and is provided with a laterally projecting arm 56I having anopeningtherein, through which projects a rod 59 carried by the frame plate 32.Depending from the lower side of the sleeve 56 is a downwardly extendinglug or tip .562 which is adapted to mesh with the teeth of the gear 61when the shaft 4I is moved endwise to a position where the gear 51carried thereby meshes with the gear 68.

Corresponding sleeves with extending lugs are also provided for theshafts associated with knobs 25 and 21.

As a result of the structure just described, a setting of the knob 24 islocked against revision upon movement of the knob 25 away from its 0position, that of the knob 25 by the knob 26, and that of the knob 26 bythe knob 21.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when shaft M has been rotated sothat the digit plate 31 displays the numeral 0 through opening 26 indial 22, the pin 452 will be positioned for entering the opening 472,and the leaf spring 56 will thereupon move the shaft 4I endwise. The pin452 entering the opening 412 thus locks the shaft against rotation untilagain moved endwise against the tension of the spring 50, as by pressingin on knob 26.

Such endwise movement of shaft 4I also carries the gear 51 out of meshwith gear 68 and carries the extending lug 562 out of engagement withthe teeth of gear 67.

Disengagement of lug 562 from the gear 6! permits rotation of this gearby the knob 25, and positioning of gear 51 out of mesh with gear 68permits such rotation of gear 6'! without thereby moving digit plate 37from its normal or 0 position.

The shafts associated with knobs 25 and 21 of Fig. 1, arecorrespondingly arranged for endwise movement and each carry a gear anda lug corresponding to the gear 51 and lug 562 on shaft 4I shown in Fig.3.

The shaft associated with knob 24, in the particular embodiment of theinvention shown in Fig. 1, need not be so arranged for endwisemovement,.as the digit plates are set from left to right when settingthe mechanism for the transmission of any number, and there is thereforeno gear of sequential precedence for this shaft to either lock ordisengage from.

Although this invention has been described as forming part of a specificmechanism,it should be understood that this is illustrative only, andfor the purpose of making clear the nature and objects of the invention,as it is believed that the invention, as defined by the followingclaims, is not limited to any specific structure, except insofar as suchlimitations are included within the terms of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

I claim:

1. In a signal transmitter, the combination with a frame, of a dial, adigit plate having an opening formed centrally therein and a secondopening formed therein in offset relation to the first opening, a shaftmounted for rotary and also rectilinear movement, one end of said shaftprojecting through said first opening and through a bushing in the dial,the other end of said shaft projecting through an opening in the frame,a pin carried by the shaft in spaced relation thereto and extendingthrough the second opening in the digit plate, an opening formed in thedial bushing for receiving the end of the pin when the digit plate is ina predetermined position, and resilient means for urging the shaft inthe direction for causing the pin to bear against said bushing.

2. In a signal transmitter, the combination with a frame of a dialcarried by the frame, a digit plate associated with the dial, said digitplate comprising an annular disc having an opening formed centrallytherein and a second opening formed therein in onset relation to thefirst opening, a shaft mounted for rotary and rectilinear movement, saidshaft projecting through said first opening and through a bushing in thedial and being provided with an operating knob, the other end of saidshaft being reduced in diameter and projecting through an opening in thetransmitter frame, a crank arm carried by said shaft, a pin projectingfrom the crank arm in substantial parallel relation to the shaft andextending through the second opening in the digit plate, an openingformed in the dial bushing for receiving the end of the pin when thedigit plate is in a predetermined position, and resilient means forurging the shaft in the direction to cause the pin to enter the openingin the bushing.

3. In a signal transmitter, the combination with a frame, of a dial, ashaft mounted for rotary and also rectilinear movement, one end of saidshaft projecting through said dial, the other end of said shaftprojecting through an opening in said frame, an indicating membermovable to any of a plurality of positions in response to rotation ofsaid shaft, a pin carried by said shaft in spaced parallel relationthereto, an opening formed in said dial for receiving the end of saidpin when said indicating member is in a predetermined position, andresilient means for urging said shaft in the direction for causing saidpin to enter said opening.

4. Indicator mechanism comprising a plurality of independently rotatableindicating members each having a normal position, setting 5 members forthe respective ones of said indicat ing members operable in apredetermined sequence for setting respective ones of said members toany of a plurality of positions, certain of said setting members eachcomprising a shaft 0 mounted for rotary and also rectilinear movement,resilient means for urging rectilinear movement of said shaft in onedirection, means for permitting said movement of said shaft by saidresilient means only when the indicating 15 member associated therewithis in its normal position, and locking means rendered effective uponrectilinear movement of said shaft, in a direction opposing the urge ofsaid resilient means, for locking against rotation any shaft 20previously operable in said sequence.

5. Indicator mechanism comprising a plurality of independently rotatableindicating members each having a normal position, individual meansoperable in a predetermined sequence for set- 2 ting respective ones ofsaid members to any of a plurality of positions, and locking meansrendered effective upon operation of respective ones of said settingmeans from its normal position for locking against operation any settingmeans previously operable in said sequence.

HARRY S. SMITH.

